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ELECTRIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. 619x22 zfifi/v/v/mg Aug. 6, 1929. c. A. RANNING' ELLECTRIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 10, 1927 I V 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .JNVENTOR. 639,624 dfly/v/r/n g I ATTORNEY.

Aug. 6, 1929- c. A. RANNING I ELECTRIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3mm 06194 {f Hs V/v//v Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES Parent orries.

CARL A. RANKING, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUTOMATIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OF RENO, NEVADA, A CORPO- RATION OF NEVADA.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

Application filed. January 10, 1927. Serial No. 160,251.

This invention is directed to a signalling means designed to be manually operated to energize a signal and automatically operated to deenergize the signal, the automatic operation being capable of control to vary the time limit of such operation to thereby permit the signal to remain energized any desired length of time within the limits of the apparatus. y

The invention is designed, among other uses, to provide a signal which may be used at a street intersection to enable a-pedestrian to direct a signal to the motorman of astreet car, forexample, to indicate that the car should stop to pick up the passenger, the signal being merely set by the pedestrian and automatically deener ized following a predetermined period of time,the signal proper also involving a further or danger signal to notify approaching automobile drivers that the street car will stop for passengers, thus permitting the automobile driver to be advised of the necessity for controlling his vehicle to avoid injuring such waiting passengers.

' means in operative position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the switch, parts being shown'innormal position.

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the switch with the cover section removed.

Figure 5 is a View in front elevation of the switch with the cover in place.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 3.

The improved signalling means comprises a signal casing 1 supported from a bracket 2 carried by a post 3, such as a lamp-post, telegraph pole or the like, the signal casing having an appropriate electric source of illumination and reflector, of conventional type and therefore not shown, and having a lens 4 to direct light rays onto the tracks 5 of an electric street or interurban car, so that the motorman will be advised by the presence of such signal light that a passenger is waiting at the particular to heard the car,

The signal casing 1 is also provided with a lateral lens or bulls-eye 6 to indicate to oncoming motorists the fact that a passenger is waiting for the approaching street car, so that the motorist may govern his vehicle accordingly.

The energizing conductors 7 for the source of light of the signal lead from the casing 1 to a switch 8 secured on the post 3 within convenient reach of a person, and it is with the construction of this particular switch that the present invention is principally concerned. v The switch 8 comprises a cylindrical housmg 9 open at the top and adapted to be closed by a removable cover 10. Within the housing is arranged a supporting frame llsecured to the housing by-metal straps 12, the supporting frame being arranged in parallelism with the bottom of the housing and near the open end of the latter. The frame plate 11 is longitudinally slotted at 13 and operating' in the slot are depending operating fingers 14 and 15 held in spaced relation and arranged for simultaneous movement through the provision of a plate 16 slidably supported on the upper surface of the frame plate 11.

The finger 15 extends above the plate 16 and through a slot 17 in the cover 10 being,

beyond the slot 17 provided with or formed to provide an operating handle 18 through which the switch. mechanism may be manually opcratcd. A guard 19 in the form of a plate is arranged immediately beneath the is an insulating block 20 having alongitudinally extending channel 21 in which is slidably guided a switch slide 22. This switch slide is provided with an insulating block 23 connected by a spring 24 to the wall of the casing, the block 23 having an upstanding lug 25 arranged in the path of movement of the finger 14: of the operating member. Secured to the bottom of the casing beyond the block 20 are insulating blocks 26 carrying contact plates 27 which extend inwardly of the block 26. Secured to the block 23 on the slide 20 is a bridging Contact strin 28 in the term of a member, the enda at which Secured on the bottom of the switch casing A extend laterally of the block so as to engage the respective contacts 27 when the block 20 is advanced.

Mounted at the relatively inner end of the block 20 is an L-shaped lever latch 29, the forward arm or" which has a depending nose 30 while the upstanding arm 31 of the lever acts as a trip, as hereinafter explained, and is normally influenced by a spring 32 in the forward direction, that is in a direction to depress the nose 30. The insulating block 20 is formed at the forward end and below the channel 21 with a projection 33, over and beyond which the nose 30 of the latch 29 is adapted to drop when the slide 22 has been sufliciently advanced for thepurpose.

Diametrically opposite the switch elements described is a dash pct 34 embodying the usual cylinder 35, piston 36 and piston rod 37. The latter is preferably hollow to house a spring 38 hearing at one end against the closed end 39 of the piston rod and at the opposite end against the cylinder wall. The end 39 of piston rod 37 is directly in the path 01" the finger 15 of the operating member. The dash pot cylinder is formed with an air inlet 40 and with a vent 41, the latter being regulated by a flexible closure 42, positioned, as desired to control the vent, by a threaded manually operable adjusting member 43.

The circuit leading from the sOurce of supply through the switch and from the switch to the signal proper is of no particular importance so far as the present invention is concerned and no attempt is made to illustrate the same, it being understood that so long as the movable contact 28 is in spaced relation to the fixed contacts 27, the signal circuit is broken and that when these parts are in engagement, the signal circuit is energized.

Assuming the parts arranged as described, it being desired on the part of the user to signal an approaching street car, the operating member is moved in the direction of the arrow (Figure 3) by convenient manipulation of the handle 18. In this movement, the finger 15 contacts with and moves the piston of the dash pot inwardly of such dash pot and the finger 14 contacts with and engages the upstanding lug 25 of the movable block 20. It will be apparent from Figure 3 of the drawings that the piston and dash pot will be moved considerable distance before the finger 14 operates the switch block 20. The movement of the operating member being continued, the movable contact member 28 will finally bridge the fiXed contacts 27 and immediately following this engagement the nose 30 of the latch 29 will ride in advance of the lug 33 and hold the switch closed. The signal is now energized and the operator need pay no further attention to the same. Immediately pressure upon the operating handle 18 is released, the spring 38 of the dash pot starts to return the piston 36 to normal position. The rapidity of this movement is ol viously controlled by the admission of air through the vent 41 and as this latter is regulated to a considerable extent by the position of the closure 42, it is apparent that the return movement of the piston may be regulated within considerable limits. The return movement of the piston 36 and corresponding movement of the piston rod 39 causes the return of the operating member to normal position and during this return and engagement of the piston rod with the upstanding arm 31 of the latch 29, thus withdrawing the nose end of the latch from a position in ad vance of the lug 33 and releasing the switch. block 20 to the influence of the spring 24 for the return of the block to a normal position and the disconnection of the movable switch member 28 from the fixed contacts 27, deenergizing the signal circuit and of course eliminating the signal lights.

The structure is admirably adapted for signalling interurban streets cars, as usually the lighting of the right of way is rather poor and it is not always possible for the motorman to see a waiting passenger. With this device, a person waiting for a car may, on the approach of the-car, operate the switch and throw a signal onto the track in the path of the advancing car to indicate to the motorman that the car should be stopped. Of course, the signalling device may be useful in other positions and for other purposes and all such are contemplated.

What I claim as new is:

1. A switch for a pedestrian-operated signaling device comprising a casing having fixed contacts arranged in spaced relation, a block slidable in the casing, a movable contact carried by the block to engage the fixed contacts to close the circuit in the advance of the block to a predetermined position, locking means for holding the block in such advanced position a spring for returning the block to normal position, a manual operator to engage and operate the block to an advanced position, and means set in the movement of the operator to advance the block for releasing the lock following the release of the operator.

2. A switch for a pedestrian-operated signaling device comprising a casing, spaced circuiting contacts therein, a movable contact therein, a manual operator for actuating the movable contact in one direction, a spring for returning the movable contact in the opposite direction, an automatic locking means for holding the movable contact in contacting relation, and a dash pot having a piston and piston rod adapted to be set by the manual operator, said piston rod on the return of the piston to normal position releasing the automatic lock.

3. A switch for a pedestrian-operated sig naling device comprising a casing, spaced circuiting contacts therein, a movable contact rod adapted to be set by the manual operator, therein, a manual operator for acuating the and means for returning the piston to normal movable contact in one direction, a spring for position, said piston engaging and releasing 10 returning the movable contact in the opposite th automatic lock and at the same time re- 5 direction, an antomotic locking means for turing the operator to normal position.

holding the movable contact in contacting re- In testimony whereof I affix my signature. lation, a dash pot having a piston and piston CARL A. RANNING; 

